Flippable electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A receptacle connector assembly includes an outer housing and a terminal module. The terminals module includes an insulator having a base and a mating tongue extending from the base and equipped with a plurality of contacts. The contacts include front contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue and tail sections extending out of the base. The outer housing is of an insulative molding part or a metallic die cast, the terminal module is assembled in the outer housing, and thus a mating cavity is directly defined between the mating tongue and the outer housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of co-pending applicationSer. No. 15/817,309 filed on Nov. 20, 2017, the contents of which areincorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and moreparticularly to a flippable plug connector used with a receptacleconnector.

2. Description of Related Art

In the previously filed provisional applications, the plug connector is“flippable” whereas we turn the plug over and it functions the same topand bottom. In order to be able to handle switching of the super speedsignaling, a MUX (or SS switch) is built into the silicon. This can becostly and also cause some additional degradation in the super speedsignals. Recently, a proposal for use with the future USB (UniversalSerial Bus) was presented.

Hence, a new and simple electrical plug connector and the complementaryreceptacle connector are desired to improve those disclosed in theaforementioned proposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide areceptacle connector assembly. The assembly comprises an outer housingand a terminal module. The terminals module includes an insulator havinga base and a mating tongue extending from the base and equipped with aplurality of contacts and a shielding plate. The contacts include frontcontacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue and tail sectionsextending out of the base. The shielding plate is embedded within themating tongue and includes a pair of rigid notches in two oppositelateral sides for locking to a pair of corresponding latches of acomplementary plug connector. The outer housing is of an insulativemolding part or a metallic die cast, the terminal module is assembled inthe outer housing, and thus a mating cavity is directly defined betweenthe mating tongue and the outer housing to be inserted with thecomplementary plug connector.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a mated receptacle connectoron the printed circuit board and a plug connector of a first embodimentof the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connectorand the plug connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the receptacle connector spacedfrom the printed circuit board of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4(A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 1 without the shield thereof.

FIG. 6(A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 1 to show the housing and the contactsthereof.

FIG. 6(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 1 to show the housing and the contactsthereof.

FIG. 7(A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 1 wherein the housing and the contacts arepre-assembled together.

FIG. 7(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 1 wherein the housing and the contacts arepre-assembled together.

FIG. 8(A) is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector on theprinted circuit board of FIG. 1 to show the retention tang of theshield;

FIG. 8(B) is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector to showthe extending plate of the collar.

FIG. 9 is a front assembled perspective view of the plug connector ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front partially exploded perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 1 wherein the cover is removed away from theremainder.

FIG. 11 is a front partially exploded perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 10 wherein the front and rear over-moldings have beenfurther removed.

FIG. 12 is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13(A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 12 by removal of additional parts therefrom.

FIG. 13(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 13(A).

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the mated plug connector andreceptacle connector of FIG. 1 to show how the latch of the plugconnector is lockable engaged with the shielding plate of the receptacleconnector.

FIG. 15(A) is a front assembled perspective view of a second embodimentof the receptacle connector mounted to the printed circuit board.

FIG. 15(B) is a rear assembled perspective view of the receptacleconnector mounted upon the printed circuit board of FIG. 15(A).

FIG. 16(A) is a front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector on the printed circuit board of FIG. 15(A).

FIG. 16(B) is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector on the printed circuit board of FIG. 15(B).

FIG. 17(A) is a further front exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 16(A).

FIG. 17(B) is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 16(B).

FIG. 18 is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 17(A).

FIG. 19 is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector mountedupon the printed circuit board of FIG. 15(A).

FIG. 21(A) is a front assembled perspective view of a third embodimentof the receptacle connector mounted upon the printed circuit board.

FIG. 21(B) is a rear assembled perspective view of the receptacleconnector mounted upon the printed circuit board of FIG. 21(A).

FIG. 22(A) is a front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector mounted upon the printed circuit board of FIG. 21(A).

FIG. 22(B) is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector mounted upon the printed circuit board of FIG. 21(B).

FIG. 23(A) is a further front exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 21(A).

FIG. 23(B) is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 21(B).

FIG. 24 is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 23(A);

FIG. 25 is further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector mountedupon the printed circuit board of FIG. 21(A).

FIG. 27(A) is a front assembled perspective view of a fourth embodimentof the receptacle connector mounted upon the printed circuit board;

FIG. 27(B) is a rear assembled perspective view of the receptacleconnector 27(A) mounted upon the printed circuit board.

FIG. 28(A) is a front perspective view of the receptacle connector ofFIG. 27(A) moved away from the printed circuit board;

FIG. 28(B) is a rear perspective view of the receptacle connector ofFIG. 27(B) moved away from the printed circuit board.

FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of the receptacle connector of FIG.28(A) moved away from the printed circuit board without the bracketattached thereto.

FIG. 30(A) is a front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 29;

FIG. 30(B) is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 28(B).

FIG. 31(A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 30(A);

FIG. 31(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 30(B).

FIG. 32 (A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 31(A);

FIG. 32(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of thereceptacle connector of FIG. 31(A).

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of FIG.27(A) mounted upon the printed circuit board.

FIG. 34(A) is a front exploded perspective view of a fifth embodiment ofthe plug connector, similar to what is shown in FIG. 13(A).

FIG. 34(B) is a rear exploded perspective view of the plug connector, ofFIG. 34(B).

FIG. 35(A) is a front partially exploded perspective view of a plugconnector of a fifth embodiment of this present invention similar toFIG. 34(A).

FIG. 35(B) is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 34(B).

FIG. 36 is a front assembled perspective view of the plug connectorfurther assembled with cabled and other parts.

FIG. 37(A) is a front partially assembled perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 36.

FIG. 37(B) is a rear partially assembled perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled plug connector.

FIG. 39(A) is a front exploded perspective view of a sixth embodiment ofthe plug connector, similar to what is shown in FIG. 13(A).

FIG. 39(B) is a rear exploded perspective view of the plug connector ofFIG. 39(A).

FIG. 40(A) is a front partially assembled perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 39(A).

FIG. 40(B) is a rear partially assembled perspective view of the plugconnector of FIG. 39(B).

FIG. 41(A) is a front exploded perspective view of the plug connector ofFIG. 40(A) further assembled with cables and other parts.

FIG. 41(B) is a rear exploded perspective view of the plug connector ofFIG. 41(A).

FIG. 42 (A) is a further front partially assembled perspective view ofthe plug connector of FIG. 41(A).

FIG. 42(B) is a further rear partially assembled perspective view of theplug connector of FIG. 41(B).

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled plug connector ofFIG. 42(A).

FIG. 44 is a rear perspective view of a seventh embodiment of thereceptacle connector mounted in a case of a mobile device;

FIG. 45 is a rear perspective view of the receptacle connector of FIG.27 removed away from the case.

FIG. 46(A) is a front assembled perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 44;

FIG. 46(B) is a rear assembled perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 44;

FIG. 47 is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connectorof FIG. 44.

FIG. 48 is a front exploded view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 44.

FIG. 49 is a further front exploded view of the receptacle connector ofFIG. 29.

FIG. 50 is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 30

FIG. 51 is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 50.

FIG. 52 is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 51.

FIG. 53 is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacleconnector of FIG. 52.

FIG. 54 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of FIG.46(A).

FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 44in the case.

FIG. 56 is an illustrative side view to show how the contacts arecoupled to each other during the regular plug connector is mated withthe receptacle connector.

FIG. 57 is an illustrative side view to show the power contact of theembodiment of the plug connector mated with the contact of thereceptacle connector.

FIG. 58 is an illustrative side view to show both the power contact andthe signal contact of the plug connector of FIG. 57 mated with thecontact of the receptacle connector.

FIG. 59 is an illustrative side view to show how the contacting area ofthe power contact of the plug connector of FIG. 57 is not affected byinsertion damage during mating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 1-2(B) show a plug connector 10 mated with a receptacle connector50 mounted in a notch 102 of a printed circuit board 100, of a firstembodiment. Referring to FIGS. 3-8(B), the receptacle connector 50includes an insulative housing 52 with a mating tongue 54 forwardlyextending in a capsular mating cavity 57 of a metallic shield 56 whichencloses the housing 52. Opposite upper and lower rows of contacts 58are disposed in the housing 52 with corresponding contacting sections 60exposed upon opposite surfaces of the mating tongue 54 in a diagonallysymmetrical arrangement mechanically and electrically so as to allow aso-called flippable insertion of the plug connector 10 thereinto. A stepstructure 62 is formed around a root of the mating tongue 54. A onepiece metallic EMI collar 64 includes a loop structure 66 intimatelysurrounding the step structure 62. The collar 64 further includes anL-shaped extending plate 65 equipped with embossments 63 thereon andreceived in the recess 61 of the lower piece 72 of the housing 52(illustrated later) for mechanically and electrically connecting to theshield 56.

The housing 52 is composed of the upper piece 70 and a lower piece 72commonly sandwiching therebeween a middle piece 74 which forms themating tongue 54. The upper row contacts 58 are associated with theupper piece 70, the lower row contacts 58 associated with a lower piece72 and the shielding plate 76 is associated with the middle piece 74 viaan insert molding process wherein the contacting sections 60 of theupper row contacts 58 and those of the lower rows contacts 58 are seatedupon opposite upper surface and lower surface of the mating tongue 54,respectively, as mentioned before. A rear portion of the step structure62 is removed to have a front edge region 71 of the upper piece 70 andthe front edge region 73 of the lower piece 72 sandwiched between themiddle piece 74 and the loop structure 66 of the EMI collar 64 so as toenhance the strength during mating under some bending. In thisembodiment, the shielding plate 76 defines an opening 77 and a thinnerarea 78 for both securing and impedance consideration, and further apair of mounting legs 79 so as to efficiently separate the upper rowcontacts 58 and the lower row contacts 58 from each other wherein theupper row contacts 58 form the surface mount type tail sections whilethe lower row contacts 58 form the through hole type tail sections. Inan alternate embodiment, the thinner area 78 may be totally removed fromthe shielding plate 76. The lower piece 72 includes a pair of mountingposts 80 receiving in the corresponding through hole for mounting thehousing 52 to the printed circuit board 100. The lower piece 72 furtherforms a pair of recessions 49 to receive the corresponding retentiontangs 37 of the shield 56.

In this embodiment, the middle piece 74 forms a pair of recesses 82 torespectively receive the corresponding protrusions 84 of the upper piece70 and the lower piece 72 for securing the upper piece 70, the lowerpiece 72 and the middle piece 74 therebetween in a stacked mannerwherein the upper piece 70 further include a pair of downward assemblingpoles 84 received in the corresponding alignment holes 86 of the middlepiece 74, and the lower piece 72 further includes an upward assemblingpole 85 received in the corresponding alignment holes 86 of the middlepiece 74, and the lower piece 72 further forms a pair of upward locatingposts 87 received within the corresponding recesses 89 in the upperpiece 70. In this embodiment, the lower piece 72 defines a plurality ofthrough holes 91 and 93 to receive the tail sections of the lower rowcontacts 58 and the mounting legs 79 of the shielding plate 76 to extendtherethough as an alignment spacer. Notably, the shielding plate 76forms a front edge section 69 extending forwardly beyond a front edge ofthe mating tongue 54 for anti-mismsting consideration, and a pair oflateral edge sections 67 for locking with a latch 39 of the plugconnector 10 (illustrated later). In brief, the shielding plate 76 isessentially multifunctional to perform shielding, grounding,reinforcing, anti-mis-mating and locking. A metallic bracket 95 issoldered under the shield 56 and forms a pair of supporting legs 97mounted into the through hole 103 of the printed circuit board 100 forsupporting the receptacle connector 50 within the notch 102 of theprinted circuit board 100. The shield 56 further includes an upside-downU-shaped structure (not labeled) on a rear portion covering the rearportion of the housing 52 with a pair of mounting legs 55 received inthe through holes 104 for mounting to the printed circuit board 100 anda pair of locking tabs 59 received in the recesses 99 of the upper piece70 after the shield 56 is rearwardly assembled to the housing 52 in afront-to-back direction. Notably, the mounting leg 79 of the shieldingplate 76 share the same through hole with the neighboring groundingcontact tail for enhancing grounding effect.

Referring to FIGS. 9-13(B) and further FIG. 14, the plug connector 10includes an insulative housing 12 having a capsular front contour with arectangular receiving cavity 14 therein and enclosed in a metallic shell16. Opposite upper and lower rows of contacts 18 are disposed in thecorresponding passageways 32 of the housing with correspondingcontacting sections 20 extending into the receiving cavity 14 whereinthe upper and lower rows of contacts 18 are diagonally symmetricallyarranged with each other in both electrical and mechanical arrangementso as to meet the so-called flippable mating, i.e., the dual oppositeorientations. A pair of metallic upper and lower EMI (Electro-MagneticInterference) spring plates 22 are enclosed in the shell 16, and each ofthe EMI spring plates 22 is sandwiched between the shell 16 and thehousing 12 and includes a front resilient region 24 extending inwardlytoward the receiving cavity 14 and in front of the contacting sections20, a rear abutting region 26 to abut against the shell 16, and a pairof side retention regions 28 retainably engaged within correspondingside portions of the housing 12. A pair of tapes 30 are disposed upontwo opposite sides of the housing 12 so as to isolate the contactingsection 20 from the shell 16. A spacer 34 is located behind the housingand defines a plurality of passages 35 through which the tail sections21 of the contacts 18 rearwardly extend. A recessed region 36 is formedin a rear face of the spacer 34 to receive a front edge region of apaddle card 38 wherein the tail sections 21 of the contacts 18 extendingthrough the corresponding passages 35, are soldered upon thecorresponding pads 37. The spacer 34 forms a forward extending blade 31with a pair of forward protrusions 33 on two faces in the verticaldirection to be commonly inserted into a back side of the housing 12wherein the blade 31 is essentially received in the side slots 13 of thehousing 12. A U-shaped metallic latch 39 of a blanking type received inthe side slots 13 of the housing 12 with a pair of locking heads 40extending into the two opposite lateral sides of the receiving cavity 14to lock with the lateral edge sections 67 of the shielding plate 76 ofthe receptacle connector 50 during mating. Understandably, the latch 39is restrained by the blade 31, the comb structures on the bland 31, theforward protrusions 33, the slots 13 and an interior rear face of thehousing 12.

A cable 41 behind the paddle card 38, encloses a plurality of wires 42regulated by a pair of organizer 43 to be soldered upon a rear region ofthe paddle card 38. Via the protrusions and openings (not labeled), anauxiliary rear shell 17 grasps the shell 16 to shield the paddle card38, and a clipper 44 grasps the rear shell 17 and further the cable 41behind the paddle card 38. Opposite front overcoat 45 and rear overcoator strain relief 46 are overmolded upon the rear shell 17 and theclipper 44, respectively. Finally, a cover 47 essentially fully coversthe clipper 44, the front overcoat 45 and the rear overcoat 46. Duringmating, the mating tongue 54 is received in the receiving cavity 14 withthe corresponding contacting sections 60 of the contacts 58 of thereceptacle connector 50 connected to the contacting sections 20 of thecontacts 18 of the plug connector 10 wherein the latch 39 is locked withthe shielding plate 76, and the front resilient region 24 of the springplate 22 contacts the collar 64.

Referring to FIGS. 15(A)-20 showing a second embodiment of thereceptacle connector 110 similar to that disclosed in the firstembodiment, the receptacle connector 110 includes the upper piece 112with the upper contacts 114 insert molded therein, the middle piece 116with the shielding plate 118 therein, and the lower piece 120 with thelower contacts 122 therein wherein the upper piece 112 and the lowerpiece 120 are commonly sandwich the middle piece 116 therebetween withan EMI metallic collar 124 surrounds all. A metallic shield 126, i.e.,i.e., the capsular segment 126 a (labeled in FIG. 17(A)) defined as themating port portion encloses the assembled upper piece 112, the middlepiece 116 and lower piece 120 and forms a mating cavity 127 in which amating tongue 129 formed by the middle piece 116 forwardly extends.Notably, similar to that in the first embodiment, the shielding plate118 forms a pair of lateral edge sections 119 for locking to thecorresponding latch of the complementary plug connector. Also, similarto that in the first embodiment, the metallic shield 126 further formsan upside-down U-shaped structure, i.e., the rear covering portion 130 a(labeled in FIG. 16(A)) including a top wall 130, a pair of side walls132 and further a rear wall 134 so as to relatively completely shieldthe rear portions of the upper piece 112 and lower piece 120 above theprinted circuit board 106. Different from what is disclosed in the firstembodiment, the mating port portion 126 a of the shield 126 does notdefines a sealed type capsular mating cavity 127 but with two pairs ofspring tangs 128 for engagement with the mated plug connector. Inaddition, a metallic top bracket 138 covering an upper part of thecapsular segment 126 a of the shield 126, is optionally welded to theshield 126 and mounted upon the top surface of the printed circuit board106 via a pair of mounting legs 139, and a metallic bottom bracket 140covering a lower part of the capsular segment 126 a of the shield 126,is optionally welded to the shield 126 and optionally soldered, with thesoldering pads 142, to an under surface of the printed circuit board 106to completely shield the through holes 108 which receive the mountingtails of the lower contacts 122 and those of the shield 126. The bottombracket 140 as shown in FIG. 16(A) and FIG. 16(B) includes a bottom wall140 a and a rear wall 141 bending from a rear edge of the bottom wall140 a, and two front sidewalls 143 and two rear sidewall 145 curvedlyextending from opposite ends of the bottom wall 140 a. The frontsidewalls 143 snug surrounding the capsular segment 126 a and the rearsidewalls 145 are separated from each other. Said soldering pads 142bend from the rear sidewall 145 and the rear wall 141. Please referringto FIG. 20, the bottom wall 140 a and the rear wall 141 surround themounting tails 108 of the lower contacts 122 and those of the shield 126therein. The rear wall 134 of the rear covering portion 130 surroundsthe mounting legs of the upper contacts therein. In this embodiment, thelower piece 120 forms a pair of recesses 111 to receive thecorresponding retention tangs 113 of the shield 126.

Referring to FIGS. 21(A)-26 showing a third embodiment of the receptacleconnector similar to those disclosed in the second embodiments, ametallic bottom bracket 140′ covering a lower part of the capsularsegment 126 a of the shield 126, is optionally welded to the shield 126and positioned to an under surface of the printed circuit board 106 tocompletely shield the through holes 108 which receive the mounting tailsof the lower contacts 122 while leaving those receiving the shield 126opened. Notably, same with that in the first embodiment, the collar 124is equipped with an L-shaped extending plate 125 received in the recess121 of the lower piece 120 wherein the extending plate 125 forms a pairof protrusions 123 to mechanically and electrically connect to theshield 126. The bottom bracket 140′ includes a bottom wall 140 a′, arear wall 141′ and two sidewalls 143′, those four walls are integratedand formed by drawing. Different from the second embodiment, thesidewalls has no soldering pads 142, and the bottom bracket 140′ isformed by drawing technology.

FIGS. 27(A)-33 disclose fourth embodiment of the receptacle connector500 for use with a flippable plug connector. The receptacle connector500 mounted upon a printed circuit board 550 via assistance of thebracket 548, includes a terminal module 502 enclosed within a metallicshield 504. The terminal modules 502 includes an upper insulator 510associated with the upper contacts 512, and a lower insulator 514associated with the lower contacts 516 to commonly sandwich a middleinsulator 520 associated with an EMI metallic shielding plate 520 havinga pair of lateral edge sections to engage the corresponding latches ofthe complementary plug connector. The significant difference relative tothe first embodiment is to provide the dual row contacts both withsurface mount tail sections 5122, 5162 and surface mount tail sections5202 of the shielding plate 520 rather than including through hole typetail sections. Under this situation, no RFI leakage can be formedthrough such an inexistent vias in which the original through hole tailsections extend. Understandably, to have two rows of surface mount typetail sections, the tail sections of the upper row contacts and those ofthe lower row contacts should be offset from each other for easyinspection and trace routing. Another primary difference relative to thefirst embodiment is to provide the bracket 548 soldered upon the shield504 with additionally a pair of raised portions 546 at two rear cornerswhere the corresponding portions of the terminal module 502 areoriginally exposed outside of the plate, i.e., rear covering portion 505of the shield 504. In this embodiment, such an originally exposedportion of the upper insulator 510 is the front/corner portion of thehorizontal portion behind the capsular portion where the gap 506 islocated. Therefore, via the pair of block like raised portion 546 of thebracket 548, majority of gaps is sealed to reduce RFI leakage. Theraised portion 546 includes a first segment 5461 extending in a frontand rear direction and transverse direction, a second segment 5462extending in the front and rear direction and a vertical direction and athird segment 5463 bending from the second segment 5462 and extending inthe transverse direction and the vertical direction. The raised portion546 shielding a gap 506 formed between the shielding 504 and thecovering portion 505. Thus, the bracket 548 performs a significant RFIleakage reduction function in addition to the hold down function.Notably, the raised portion 546 is not intimately seated upon thecorresponding shield 504 or housing 502 but with a space therebetween inthis embodiment for manufacturing consideration. On the other hand,similar to the first embodiment, the bracket 548 includes a pair ofmounting legs 544 inserted into the printed circuit board 550.

FIGS. 34(A)-38 disclose a fifth embodiment of the flippable plugconnector 300 similar to the plug connector 50 disclosed in the firstembodiment. The plug connector 300 includes an insulative housing 302forming a receiving cavity 304. Two rows of contacts 306 are assembledwithin the housing 302 with the front contacting sections extending intothe receiving cavity 304 and a rear connecting sections soldered upon afront region of a paddle card 308 which is located behind the housing302. A cable 310 includes a plurality of wires 312 soldered upon a rearregion of the paddle card 308. A metallic shell 314 encloses the housing302. A pair of metallic spring plates 316 are assembled to the housing302 and sandwiched between the housing 203 and the shell 314. Theprimary difference relative to the first embodiment is to provide a pairof discrete latches 318, in place of a single U-shaped latch piecedisclosed in the first embodiment, retained within two opposite slots320 of the housing 302 via the barbs 322, wherein a front section 324 ofthe latch 318 extends into the receiving cavity 304 and the rear section326 defining a fork structure to sandwich a front edge region of thepaddle card 308 in a soldered manner. Understandably, this arrangementmay allow a relatively larger tolerance during manufacturingadvantageously.

FIGS. 39(A)-43 disclose a sixth embodiment of the flippable plugconnector 400. The plug connector 400 includes an insulative housing 402forming a receiving cavity 404. Two rows of contacts 406 are assembledwithin the housing 402 with the front contacting sections extending intothe receiving cavity 404 and rear connecting sections regulated by aspacer 408 to reach a front region of the paddle card 410. A U-shapedlatch 412 is retained in the housing 402 in front of the spacer 408 withfront sections extending into the receiving cavity 404. A metallic shell414 encloses the housing 402. A cable 416 includes a plurality of wires418 soldered to a rear region of the paddle card 410. The primarydifference relative to the first embodiment, is to provide the springplate 420 without the retention tab 28 disclosed in the first embodimentbut forming an engagement notch 422 to receive a protrusion 426 on thehousing 402 so as not to lessen the housing material for strengthconsideration. On the other hand, the 0.05 mm tape 30 disclosed in thefirst embodiment, has been replaced with the 0.1 mm plastic plate 430.Additionally, the front contacting section 428 is structured with abellow shape instead of a cantilevered type so as to leave a sufficientdistance with regard to the contacting sections of the contacts for notshorting therebetween. The front contacting sections 428 are disposed infront the contacting sections of the contacts through correspondingholes 427 defined on the insulative housing, the through holes 427 aredistinct from each other.

Referring to FIGS. 44-55 showing a seventh embodiment of a receptacleconnector 200, the receptacle connector 200 is essentially a power onlytype of less contacts thereof. The receptacle connector 200 includes aterminal module 202 enclosed in an outer housing 204. Understandably, inthis embodiment the housing 204 is insulative. Anyhow, the outer housing204 may be metallic via a die casting method or a metallic drawing pieceassociated with an overmolded insulator. The terminal module 202 isessentially composed of the upper insulator 206 with the upper contacts208 insert-molded therein, the lower insulator 210 with the lowercontacts 212 insert-molded therein, and the middle insulator 214 withthe shielding plate 216 insert-molded therein, wherein the middleinsulator 214 forming the mating tongue thereof, is sandwiched betweenthe upper insulator 206 and the lower insulator 210 with the securingsections 218 secured into the corresponding retention slots 220 in theupper insulator 206 and those in the lower insulator 210. The tails ofthe upper contacts 208 and the lower contacts 212 are of a compressionmount for reliable and replaceable connection to the printed circuitboard 250. A metallic collar 222 surrounds the terminal module 202. Theshielding plate 216 forms a pair of lateral edge sections 217 exposedoutside of the mating tongue to be engaged with a pair of latchingstructures of the mated plug connector (not shown). The housing 204forms a front capsular mating cavity 230 and a rear rectangularreceiving cavity 232 communicate with each other along the front-to-backdirection to commonly receive the terminal module 202 therein. Theterminal module is assembled forwardly from a rear end of the connector,and the a front end of the base is blocked against stopping ribs 2041.The housing 204 forms transverse retention plate 234 on an exterior sidefor reception within the corresponding retention grooves 260 in thereceiving space 262 of the case 266 of a mobile device 255, and a pairof retention lugs 236 for reception within the corresponding retentionrecesses 264 so as to have the connector 200 assembled securely withinthe corresponding receiving space 262 of the mobile device 255. Thehousing 204 further forms a pair of securing lugs 238 received in thecorresponding recessions 240 to secure the terminal module 202 withinthe receiving cavity 232 of the housing 204. The housing 202 forms anupward opening 242 to allow the tails of the upper contacts 208 and thelower contacts 214 to extend therethrough upwardly to contact theprinted circuit board 250. The case 266 forms a through opening 268 tocommunicate the receiving space 262 with an exterior. A pair ofsupporting ribs 269 are formed in the receiving space 262 to support theconnector 200. Two pairs of press fit ribs (not labeled) and each pairbeing by two sides of the retention recess 264, are formed on the sidewalls facing the receiving space 262 to press against the insertedconnector 200 for retention. A rubber seal 251 surrounds the frontcapsular portion 231 of the housing 204 and forms a shoulder 253 to abutagainst a front edge of the front capsular portion 231 in a compressedmanner, along the front-to-back direction, when the connector 200 isassembled in the receiving space 262. Under this arrangement, theconnector 200 is first downwardly assembled into the receiving space 262and the printed circuit board 250 is successively assembled thereto tohave the tails of the upper contacts 208 and the lower contacts 212 tomechanically and electrically connect thereto in a compressing manner.Understandably, compared with other previous embodiments, the connector200 has less contacts which only perform power delivery. Anyhow, theadditional signal contacts are optionally provided in the sameconnector, if desired. Additionally, similar to the previous embodiment,the plug connector is flippable with regard to the receptacle connector200.

Referring to FIG. 56 the deflectable power contact 600 of the plugconnector forms an angled contacting area 602, the blacken area on theangled contacting area 602 means the arc damaged region during breaking,and position “A” of the flat power contact 700 of the receptacleconnector shows the breaking point and position “B” thereof shows thecontacting point when mated with the same one power contact 600 of theplug connector. Notably, in the receptacle econnector, the signalcontact 702 has a more rearward breaking point than the power contact700. Clearly, the contacting area 602 includes the arc damaged region,thus making the connection inferior. FIG. 57 shows the power contact 610moves between the initial/breaking position where the breaking point 612contacts the power contact 700 of the receptacle connector, to thefull/contact position where the contacting point 614 contacts the powercontact 700 of the receptacle connector. In this embodiment the breakingpoint 612 and the contacting point 614 is distance from each other witharound 0.75 mm optionally along an oblique extending line. FIG. 58 showsthe signal contact 620 still has the same original angled contactingsection which is spaced from the contacting point with 0.5 mm in a sideview. FIG. 59 shows in the power contact of the plug connector how thearc damaged area is avoided in the contacting point due to such anobliquely extending line. Understandably, the arc damage essentiallyoccurs around the last breaking piece so only the power contact isinvolved therewith for this improvement.

However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made indetail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of partswithin the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A receptacle connector comprising: an outerhousing; a terminal module including an insulator having a base and amating tongue extending from the base, and equipped with a plurality ofcontacts and a metallic plate, the mating tongue defining a thickenedstep portion around a root thereof to the base, the contacts includingplate contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue and in front ofthe step portion, and tail sections extending out of the base, themetallic plate being embedded within the mating tongue and including apair of rigid notches in two opposite lateral sides for locking to apair of corresponding latches of a complementary plug connector; whereinthe outer housing is of an insulative molding part or a metallic diecast part, the terminal module is assembled in the outer housing, andthus a mating cavity is directly defined between the mating tongue andthe outer housing to receive the complementary plug connector; whereinthe outer housing defines a stopping ring rib, the terminal module isassembled forwardly from a rear end of the receptacle connector in acondition that a front end of the base is blocked against the stoppingring rib.
 2. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein theterminal module and the outer housing are configured to allow theterminal module to be forwardly assembled into the outer housing onlyalong a front-to-back direction.
 3. The receptacle connector as claimedin claim 2, further including a case defining a receiving space, whereinthe receiving space and the outer housing are configured to allow theouter housing to be assembled into the receiving space only in thevertical direction.
 4. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1,wherein the outer housing includes a capsular mating portion, and arubber seal intimately surrounds the capsular mating portion.
 5. Thereceptacle connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer housingincludes a flange against which the rubber seal abuts rearwards.
 6. Thereceptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tail sectionsare arranged in a slanting resilient form for pressing against to aprinted circuit board on which the tail sections of the contacts aremounted.
 7. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein themetallic plate includes two securing sections secured into the insulatorof the terminal module.
 8. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim1, wherein the contacts only perform power delivery and are arranged onan upper and lower surface of the mating tongue.
 9. A receptacleconnector for mounting on a printed circuit board, comprising: an outerhousing; a terminal module including an insulator having a base and amating tongue extending from the base with a thickened step portionaround a root of the mating tongue to the base, and equipped with aplurality of contacts, the contacts including plate contacting sectionsexposed upon the mating tongue and in front of the step portion, andtail sections for mounting on the printed circuit board; wherein theouter housing is of an insulative molding part or a metallic die castpart but excluding from a bent metal sheet, the terminal module isassembled in the outer housing, and thus a mating cavity is directlydefined between the mating tongue and the outer housing to receive acomplementary plug connector; wherein a thickness of the outer housingaround the mating cavity is at least two times of a thickness of thecontact.
 10. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein theouter housing defines a stopping ring rib, the terminal module isassembled forwardly from a rear end of the receptacle connector in acondition that a front end of the base is blocked against the stoppingring rib.
 11. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein arubber seal fit surrounds an outer front end of the outer housing.
 12. Areceptacle connector comprising: an outer housing; a terminal moduleincluding an insulator having a base and a mating tongue forwardlyextending from the base in a front-to-back direction, and equipped witha plurality of contacts and a metallic plate, the mating tongue defininga thickened step portion around a root thereof to the base, the contactsincluding plate contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue andin front of the step portion along the front-to-back direction, and tailsections extending out of the base, the metallic plate being embeddedwithin the mating tongue and including a pair of rigid notches in twoopposite lateral sides for locking to a pair of corresponding latches ofa complementary plug connector; wherein the outer housing is of aninsulative molding part or a metallic die cast part while excluding froma bent metal sheet, the terminal module is assembled in the outerhousing, and thus a mating cavity is directly defined between the matingtongue and the outer housing to receive the complementary plugconnector; wherein the thickened step portion directly andcommunicatively faces the outer housing with a space therebetween in avertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction.
 13. Thereceptacle connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein a thickness of theouter housing around the mating cavity is at least two time of that ofthe contact.
 14. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 12,wherein the outer housing forms an interior circumferential stoppingring rib which a front face of the bases abuts forwardly against in thefront-to-back direction.
 15. The receptacle connector as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the outer housing forms a transverse retention plateon an exterior side thereof to be received within a retention groove ina case in which the receptacle connector is received.
 16. The receptacleconnector as claimed in claim 15, wherein a rubber seal is located infront of the transverse retention plate in the front-to-back direction.17. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 16, wherein a printedcircuit board is located behind the transverse retention plate in thefront-to-back direction.